The veteran offensive tackle had just been discarded by the downtrodden Cincinnati Bengals after a dozen seasons, treated as if he was totally washed-up and injury-prone.
All the 33-year-old lineman was looking for was the right place to keep playing football, somewhere that he could actually have hope for a meaningful playoff run.
And he surprisingly chose the Baltimore Ravens over the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, picking a team coming off a 5-11 season. The Ravens were in need of a quality individual to provide wise leadership to a young offensive line reeling from the retirement of All-Pro left tackle Jonathan Ogden, and Anderson fit the bill.
"Everyone questioned me about my decision, but I figured this team could be special," said Anderson, who followed the recommendation of Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson. "I figured with this team, this defense, great coaches, great organization, that this would be the right team for me. Hue told me when I was picking between here and Tampa Bay and San Diego that Joe Flacco is going to be a special quarterback, and if he comes along and the offensive line comes along, we’ll be in the playoffs."
Now, the Ravens (12-5) are preparing for Saturday’s AFC divisional playoff game against the top-seeded Tennessee Titans (13-3). And Anderson has injected experience, size and a physical nature to the blocking corps after general manager Ozzie Newsome convinced him to sign a three-year, $11 million contract.
"Big Willie" is regarded as the final, 6-foot-5, 340-pound building block on the foundation of an improved offense that features the NFL’s fourth-ranked running game and allowed 33 sacks this season after surrendering 39 a year ago when Ogden was still playing.
"Ozzie bringing in Willie when he brought him in, when that thing happened, I think that was just vintage Ozzie Newsome from the way I understand it," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We knew we had a situation, we knew we wanted to upgrade there if we could with a veteran player and he was patient. He wanted to have the right guy, and it worked out.
"That may have been the best move any team made in August ever. It was just a great move by Ozzie and it made a big difference for us. Willie has just been tremendous for us. Not only is he a leader and a teacher, but he’s a really good player."
He’s a happier player, too.
Anderson made the Pro Bowl four times in Cincinnati, but he only reached the playoffs once and enjoyed only one winning season in 2005 when t he Bengals were promptly booted out of the postseason by the Pittsburgh Steelers after winning the AFC North crown.
Since being drafted 10th overall out of Auburn in 1996, Anderson played on Cincinnati teams that went 76-116.
Watching the Ravens and Steelers revel in Super Bowl glory spawned emotions besides admiration in Anderson. It creating feelings of jealousy.
"It was very difficult watching rival division teams like the Ravens and Steelers going on to win the Super Bowl while we were always on the outside looking in," Anderson said. "We just kept asking ourselves, ‘How come these teams keep getting better while we remain the same?’ Being on a team like the Ravens is what I’ve prayed for my whole career."
Since taking over for an injured Adam Terry early this season, Anderson has played his way into shape since allowing three sacks to speedy Indianapolis Colts defensive end Robert Mathis. Even when Terry recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery, he hasn’t been able to unseat Anderson from the starting lineup.
"Willie brings a real sublime level of leadership," right offensive guard Chris Chester said. "He has no problem talking, but he’s not one to yell or jump around to make a point. When he speaks, everyone hangs onto every word he says."
It took Anderson 12 long years to win an NFL playoff game, something he savored in the afterglow of the Ravens’ 27-9 AFC wild-card victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Now, the Ravens are just two wins shy of reaching Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla.
"My past is behind me, this is my team now," Anderson said. "Now, I’m on a great team with a great group of guys and it feels good to be on a tough team with a lot of tough guys. I wouldn’t have come here otherwise. The people that questioned me about coming here just didn’t understand what was happening here in Baltimore."
